gratitude

Alex’s Mazda Climbed Mount Washington!

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Before heading east, one of my clients said I couldn’t pass through Vermont and New Hampshire without visiting the White Mountains. I felt super ignorant, but I didn’t even realize the White Mountains were a thing! Apparently, we have a mountain range on the east coast that looks exactly like the Alps and I had no idea until a couple months ago…

Needless to say: I’m grateful for the recommendation and it was worth the extra day of the trip!

After our Franconia Notch hike, we cooled down with a drive up Mount Washington. We could’ve hiked it; however, to our surprise, it’s the most dangerous mountain hike in North America. While only slightly above 6,000 feet in elevation, the weather can change on a dime and people constantly get stranded, blown off the mountain from a wind gust or get hypothermia from the drastic changes in weather. I love Alex and Linley too much to risk anything crazy happening! It was smarter to drive, especially after the “moderate” hike we’d already done that morning.

The drive up was beautiful and I soaked up every moment of it. We saw the temperature drop from 85° to about 59°, and saw the Sunny sky turn to an ominous fog. Even though I’ve jumped out of a plane at 18,000 feet, there was something about the foggy drive up that made me feel like we were going to fall off the edge (Alex is a great driver though!)

Once we got to the top, we parked by the couple and their dog we’d seen at dinner the night before. Great minds think alike! We enjoyed some photos and videos of our 360° views around us. It really did feel like I was back in Norway or somewhere else in Europe when we were up there.

Yes, Linley was begging for food at the top!
Double trouble!
Bumper sticker we received on the way up

The drive down was absolutely stunning as it warmed and cleared up. I took much more videos then, as Linley was loving the fresh air and as I was comforted by us using lower gear…

Toys for Linley we bought on the way down: Douglas and Tanner!

We will definitely be in the area again while we travel to upstate New York next summer!

Media taken Friday, July 10, 2026 at Mount Washington Summit

Family Photos (Clayton, NY • 2026)

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From being bullied and ostracized by blood relatives to being accepted and loved by TWO families? Priceless!

I’m grateful to have Alex’s mom’s side of the family here in Georgia, and Alex’s dad’s side in upstate New York. I never thought I would be lucky enough to have one group to call family, and to have two means the absolute world to me. My inner child is healing and I love Alex’s family so much!

I not only had the honor to take surprise engagement photos, but also family photos a couple days later. I can’t wait for next year’s family vacation already!

Linley, of course, had to add some saltiness to the sweet photos…

Lin refused to move, so Grandpa Bill had to pick him up! 🤣

Photos taken Wednesday, July 8, 2026

Welcomed back to Clayton, NY

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After visiting friends in Virginia, we headed to Clayton, New York for the annual Tracey/Viglucci/Yuhas family trip. Alex, Linley and I couldn’t attend last year because we took two weeks off work for our honeymoon, but it was great to be part of the family trip for my second time.

In 2024, us three had a whole extra home to ourselves; this year, we shared with more family members because over 20 of us made the trip this time! We were greeted with a surprise on our bedroom door, hugs from family, and sunshine on Washington Island. It felt so good to be back.

We didn’t see the baby swan we saw two years ago (aka: the Baby Lin swan!), but it’s probably because he’s all grown up now. But we did see our two favorite swans swimming around the island.

After getting settled in, we wanted to head into downtown Clayton for some ice cream, long walks on the waterfront and a nice dinner at Channelside. It felt like yesterday since we were back, and the views, kindness and comfort were just as memorable as last time. Linley was the talk of the town as we strolled around before dinner, and even got attention (and free food!) during our meal.

Cheers!

After dinner, we enjoyed a cozy night in so we could grab coffee in town again the next morning. Linley wanted some of Alex’s breakfast sandwich, and was lucky enough to get some while we chatted with Aunt Maryann.

I miss Clayton already, and will share more posts from our lovely time there. 💛

Media taken Sunday, July 5 – Monday, July 6, 2026 in Clayton, New York.

Watching the World Cup in Atlanta

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I can’t put into words how grateful I am to be living in a city that hosted the World Cup. Not only did Alex and I have the amazing opportunity to go to a game, but we enjoyed watch parties throughout the city with our closest friends. 

From seeing our wonderful Mayor Andre Dickens speak in Old Fourth Ward Park (where Alex and I got married last year), to cheering for Spain in a crowd of Saudi fans at the Mercedes Benz stadium, and watching the final game with our besties, it was an incredible month here in Atlanta. I’m already grieving! I’m so proud of my city, my friends and my chosen family for making this such a once-in-a-lifetime experience. 

Thank you, ATL, for being a great host city for the World Cup! 

Watch party for the first US game in our neighborhood
Enjoying the Spain-Saudi game with one of our best friends and his dad on Father’s Day
Watching Mexico win with friends
Watching the US win another game
Fun after the third place game
Enjoyed seeing Spain win with our closest friends

Rest easy, sweet Ellie

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My next post was supposed to be about the amazing weekend we’d be having with Ellie, and how another Thing 1 & Thing 2 puppy party was taking place. But the truth is we lost sweet Ellie last night before we could see each other again, and we’re completely devastated. 🌈

Ellie will always be Linley’s best friend and our sweet girl. She was Lin’s partner in crime, and her smile and strut turned the heads of many neighbors and friends of my pawrents. And she’s one of the only pups Linley was willing to share anything with, including me on morning walks and his favorite snuggle spot on the couch. 

We always made Ellie and Linley take silly photos together, and I’m so grateful we did. We all shared so many memories together and our shenanigans during sleepovers and holidays are moments we’ll never forget. 

We’ve been emotional because we wish Ellie were here with us this weekend. I’ll never forget all the weekends and holidays we shared. I know Ellie is bumping into other dogs up there and is zooming toward all the good food with her tongue out. 

We love you forever, Miss Elle Belle!

Agility Training • Alex & Linley 🐾

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In 2017 when I first rescued Linley, I knew I wanted to sign him up for training. Lin wasn’t a bad dog by any means, but he had a lot of anxiety and abandonment issues prior to finding his way to my heart. Plus I figured it’d be great bonding for us, because he was still figuring me out.

Linley on graduation day in 2018
Proud boy

On Christmas last year, I wanted to do something special for Alex and Linley to give them the same experience. The founder of Linley’s dog hiking group, Two Chicks and a Pack, recommended Megan at Primed Instincts for dog agility training here in Atlanta. I signed the boys up right away, and they had the best time together!

And here’s some videos if you want to see the guys in action:

I was lucky enough to watch the last two weeks of the agility trainings, and seeing my two favorite fellas always melts my heart! It was cute to see Linley smiling through all the obstacles, and he’d get so serious when following Alex for a treat. And it was awesome to see Alex so serious too; it was like they were both in “work mode.”

Even an 11-year-old dog can learn new tricks, so never sell yourself short 😉

Media taken Sunday, May 3, 2026 at Walker Park in Atlanta, GA

Celebrating Alex in North Georgia

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Alex’s birthday was Saturday, and we had a great time in the mountains of North Georgia! We started our morning with a hike on Blood Mountain where we had stunning views all around us. It was a nice spot to rest, and we even saw a blue lizard scurry nearby.

After our hike, we grabbed lunch at a local spot in downtown Dahlonega that we love so much. We sat outside, enjoyed some sweet tea and seafood, and Linley got even more attention than our birthday boy.

After realizing that Linley had a tick on him in the car (we’re all good, thank goodness!), we enjoyed more stunning views at a winery Alex loves. I’m doing an alcohol-free year but I enjoyed a Sprite while Alex enjoyed a glass of red wine. All three of us were basking in the sun and enjoying the moment together.

Before we knew it, it was time to head home. We look forward to next time!

Photos taken Saturday, May 16, 2026

Finding community in adulthood

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I started my own business this year because I once felt extremely lonely: lonely where I lived, lonely in my own family, lonely in my workplace and even lonely in some of my friendships. According to a recent study by the American Psychological Association, over half of adults in the United States feel lonely and isolated from others. I want to help others who feel how I used to just a handful of years ago. It’s incredibly important to find community whether you’re going through a major life change like relocation, a breakup or divorce, job loss (or like me: a combination of all three) and more. 

I’m sharing who makes up part of my new community because it’s possible for anyone who feels lonely to feel supported and loved; I can promise you that! One year ago I was really wondering if my community was truly stable here – because my life is normally filled with instability and chaos – and it is as strong as it can be. And that’s what everyone deserves. 🫶

Linley and me at an Atlanta Dog Mom Social Club event
Celebrating with my Aunt, Uncle and pup cousin, Ellie!
Atlanta United game with our best friends
A family 3k for a great cause
Hanging out with our friends Devin and Colin
A lovely Mother’s Day
Watching sweet Larkin again
Meeting a teammate in person
Dinner with Joss, who is also part of the Atlanta dog mom group!
Quality time with the hubs of course
A bestie was back in town real quick!

April Appreciation for Atlanta

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Between 404 Day and now, it’s been a solid month here in Atlanta. We’ve explored new places, revisited some favorites and felt a sense of community with our neighbors (especially Amy because we got to watch her sweet girl, Larkin, this month!) 

I look forward to what the rest of April and beyond has in store!

Sweetwater Creek + 404 Day

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On Friday, I wasn’t feeling the best, but I knew a hike with Linley would help me sweat out my cold in addition to making my heart feel good. We revisited Sweetwater Creek State Park for some light hiking and beautiful views. My mom also had the day off, so we talked on the phone like the good ole days. And as usual, Linley got lots of attention and four young women were adoring him, so I gave them each a treat to give to Linley. He was in heaven!

Being with Linley always makes my day, especially when we can be outdoors together.

And yesterday’s 404 Day celebration in Atlanta was a ton of fun! We strolled through our favorite neighborhood in the city, watched Linley play at Piedmont Park, picked up some plants at Flora and Fauna, and enjoyed an afternoon in our own neighborhood.

I’ve been beating myself up all week about random sh*t, and honestly, I need to stop because I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be.

Media taken Friday, April 3 & Saturday, April 4, 2026 in Atlanta, GA.

Loving spring in Atlanta 🌸

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Don’t get me wrong: I love our roadtrips and weekends away. But there’s something extra special about being home in Atlanta this time of year. It’s not nearly as drastic as Michigan’s winter-to-spring transition, but laying out in the sun, listening to soul music in the park nearby is something I don’t take for granted here.

The last couple weekends have been so much fun, and I know this weekend will be no exception. We’ve even stayed busy during the week, because there’s no point in living for the weekend (in my humble opinion 😉).

Here’s some highlights that have brought me sheer enjoyment and smiles from ear to ear:

Enjoying some beautiful sunrises and sunsets

An afternoon with Linley

My first Atlanta United game of the season

Another fun dog mom social club event (and checking out a new trail!)

Painting Linley at Piedmont Park

Seeing Linley after his Two Chicks and a Pack hike

I can’t wait for more fun, but enjoying these moments has been exactly what I’ve needed!

Photography taken March 2026

I finally started my own business

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You read that right! I started my own business. I’ve always wanted to help people outside of the “typical” business world, and I’m finally taking the plunge. I’m a certified professional coach (CPC) and TEFL-certified tutor, and want to help others find joy in life during and after a major life change. This can include divorce, relocation, career and more. I’ve been through so much in my life and I would love to continue helping others who are going through their own journeys.

Here’s the timeline of how things went:

  • August – I started my professional coaching certification through the University of Georgia, because I’m tired of corporate and truly want to help others.
  • December – I officially registered for and launched my LLC: Cate Tracey Coaching.
  • January – I officially graduated from the certification program!
  • February – My website was built, and made me appreciate UX and other web features even more.
  • This month – I’m going all-in on social media and I’m trying to create better reach, page views and engagement overall.

My goal is to have my business full-time up-and-running before the end of this year. It’s an aggressive goal, but I’m aiming high so I can keep at my North Star. I have a few clients right now but I hope to grow this enough so I can do this full-time. This is the only career path I have ever been excited about, and to finally feel excited about my career and professional purpose feels incredibly inspiring.

And no: this blog will not become a professional coaching blog, but I did want to share this news with y’all. 🫶

Here’s where you can find me:

I’m excited for this new chapter and have faith that it’s all going to work out. I can’t wait to help more people and continue to grow in this profession!